Happy 80, Sophia Loren!

Today it's the 80th birthday of bellissima Sophia Loren! Sofia Villani Scicolone was born at the Clinica Regina Margherita in Rome on 20 September 1934. La Loren rose to fame in post-war Italy as a voluptuous sex goddess. Soon after she became one of the most successful international stars of the 20th Century. As a salute, a post with 20 of our favourite postcards of this Academy Award-winning and super European film star!


Belgian postcard by Bromophoto, Brussels.


Italian postcard by Rotalfoto, Milano, no. 328. Photo: Ponti-De Laurentiis. Publicity still for La donna del fiume/Woman of the River (Mario Soldati, 1954).


German postcard printed by Krüger, no. 902/304. Photo: Georg Michalke. Publicity still for La donna del fiume/Woman of the River (Mario Soldati, 1954).


German postcard by UFA, no. 1007. Photo: UFA. Publicity still for La Bella Mugnaia/The Miller's Wife (Mario Camerini, 1955).


German postcard by Krüger, no. 902/446. Photo: Ufa.


French postcard by Editions du Globe (EDUG), Paris, no. 373. Photo: Sam Lévin.


French postcard by Edition du Globe, Paris, no. 374. Photo: Sam Lévin.


French postcard by Editions P.I., Paris, no. 946. Photo: Paramount Pictures, 1957.


German postcard by Universum-Film Aktiengesellschaft, Berlin-Tempelhof, no. 1631. Photo: Dial / Unitalia Film, Rome.


German postcard by ISV, no. A 93. Photo: 20th Century Fox. Publicity still for the British film The Millionairess (Anthony Asquith, 1960).


German postcard by Filmbilder-Vertrieb Ernst Freihoff, Essen, no. A 102. Photo: 20th Century Fox. Publicity still for The Millionairess (Anthony Asquith, 1960).


Dutch postcard. Photo: publicity still for El Cid (Anthony Mann, 1961).


Dutch postcard by Uitg. Takken, Utrecht, no. 4894. Photo: Hafbo. Publicity still for El Cid (Anthony Mann, 1961).


German postcard by Filmbilder-Vertrieb Ernst Freihoff, Essen, no. 5096. Photo: publicity still for Boccaccio '70 (Vittorio De Sica, 1962).


East-German card by VEB Progress Film-Vertrieb, Berlin, no. 2372, 1965. Photo: publicity still for Boccaccio '70 (Vittorio De Sica a.o., 1962).


Vintage photo.


French postcard by E.D.U.G., no. 236.


German postcard by Krüger, no. 902/147. Photo: UFA.


Russian postcard by Izdanije Byuro Propogandy Sovietskogo Kinoiskusstva, no. 4212, 1975. This postcard was printed in an edition of 300.000 cards. The price was 5 kop.


French postcard by Editions P.I., Paris, no. 1097. Photo: Anders.

And our favorite quote of her: After all these years, I am still involved in the process of self-discovery. It's better to explore life and make mistakes than to play it safe. Mistakes are part of the dues one pays for a full life.

Ms. Loren, tanti auguri! Cento di questi giorni!